CHAPTER FIVE
"Don't tell me; you're watching politics again."
The dark-haired woman smiled sheepishly as her Neimoidian friend stepped into their apartment room. "It's what I enjoy, Su. I don't make comments on your collection of commerce advice holo-books."
Su Koda scoffed as she folded her violet-draped arms. "I'm a finance person. So are you. What do you expect me to be interested in?"
The woman merely shrugged as she returned her attention to the wide viewscreen. The Chief of State had just arrived on her podium and the Galactic Senate was instantly in an uproar. The clamor lasted for a good minute or two until the Chagrian Chair of the Senate silenced them with his booming authorative voice.
If Via Eerin had been unsettled by the furor, she did not show it. Instead, she calmly said, "Now that you have voiced your disquiet in that incoherent outcry, let us handle things like sophisticated beings."
Nensu Kaatik gave the entire Convocation Chamber a glare before saying coldly, "The Chair recognizes the Senator of Sullust."
A repulsorpad detached from its connector and carried Senator Luewet Wuul towards the central podium.
"What is the meaning of this?" he cried angrily. "Is it true that you have given the Imperial Remnant twelve sectors to expand their territory?"
"We had no choice," Via retorted. "They had taken hostages."
"Then send the army to free them!" bellowed the Senator of Antar 4. "The Imperials had no right to take hostages!"
Several senators erupted with roars of assent, requiring Kaatik to silence them again.
"The last thing I want is a war," Via said. "If we show the Imperials force, they'll return the favor."
"We outnumber them!" shouted the Senator of Bothawui. "They don't stand a chance against us!"
The woman toned out the rest of the senators' squabbling as she fell into contemplation regarding this news. She felt that there was something else at work, something behind the Imperials' actions.
"Lyrsira?' Su Koda said to her. "Are you all right?"
Lysira Naris looked up and gave her Neimoidian friend a meaningful look. "You sense it too, don't you? A disturbance in the Force."
Su Koda slowly nodded, consternation visible in her eyes. "Yes, now that you mention it. What should we do?"
"We shall convene with the others on Dromund Kaas. Send out the summons."
* * *
The very moment Rancor Squad's ship had escaped Bastion's orbit, both it and the Ralroost went into hyperspace. They took separate routes, with the Rancors' ship taking its Jedi passengers back to Ossus.
Sitting opposite of Jaden, Taana, and Natia in the passenger compartment, Arek Cobalt said, "So, a senator and five others are dead."
Jaden nodded. "Correct."
"And the Sith are somehow involved."
"It appears so."
"And you say you left a bunch of crazy clones behind."
"That about sums it all up."
Arek sighed as he rubbed his forehead. "How do you Jedi always manage to find trouble?"
Jaden smirked. "It's a bad habit."
"So now what?" Natia asked. "I don't think peace is going to last between the Alliance and the Imperials after what happened."
"Whatever results from this, we shall respond to it as seen fit," Taana said.
Arek snorted. "That's the problem with some of you Jedi; you react instead of act. You won't take charge of your own destiny."
The Jedi Master opened her mouth to retort but was cut off by the ship suddenly shaking, nearly throwing everyone out of their seats.
"What the kark is going on?" Arek exclaimed.
"Something's screwing up the navi-computer," Commander Zanab replied from the cockpit. "We're not dropping out at Ossus for some reason."
As Jaden got to his feet, he suddenly froze, dread etching out on his face. "We're not alone."
"What do you mean?" Reeda Kanu asked, drawing her blaster rifle.
"We have a stowaway on board."
"That you do, brother."
The Jedi and the troopers all turned to see a bald, green-eyed woman emerging from the shadows. Jaden recognized her as one of the mad clones.
Arek raised his blaster at her. "Who are you and how did you get on board?"
She smiled. "I am Seer, and I have my ways."
"Why are you here?" Jaden asked, already predicting the answer.
"To set you on the course of your destiny. The path to Mother."
"Who the blazes is Mother?" Sirul growled.
Seer did not answer, simply smiling silently. The ship abruptly lurched as it came out of hyperspace. Jaden turned to see their destination.
A cluster of black holes.
"Stang it," Zanab cursed. "Not the Maw. Why are we here?"
"It's where Mother is waiting." Seer's emerald gaze bore into Jaden. "You must awaken her, brother."
"Forget about it," Jaden snapped. "And stop calling me your brother; I am in no way related to you. I'm not... I'm not a clone."
Seer's smile vanished. "You still refuse to remember. Don't worry; Mother will help you."
As she said this, something took a hold of the ship. In moments, it was shooting towards the heart of the Maw....
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